Chapter 136: Under the Fireworks

Chapter 136: Under the FireworksThe sound of the crowd's applause still reverberated through the walls of the arena, a symphony of cheers that seemed to pulse with life itself.

The announcer's voice had barely faded before the surge of interviewers and flashing cameras descended on Eratz like a wave of light.

"Eratz! Eratz!" They called his name, microphones shoved in his face, voices overlapping in a chaotic swirl.

"How does it feel to be the Greenridge champion?"

"What was your strategy in those final moments?"

"Some specialists stipulate that with your performance, you might directly pass test for the continental league, how do you feel about it?"

The questions came faster than he could process. The flashes of light left spots in his vision, and he felt as if he were drowning in the noise, his heartbeat pounding in his ears.

He raised a hand in a half-hearted wave, offering a tired, polite smile, but the intensity of the moment pressed down on him like a physical weight.

An official stepped in, parting the crowd with a firm hand on Eratz's shoulder.

"This way, champion," he said, guiding him down a narrow hallway.

Eratz gave a small nod, grateful to escape the whirlwind.

As the door closed behind them, muffling the roar of the crowd, he took a deep breath, trying to settle the adrenaline still rushing through his veins.

The second he stepped in, light came back and a loud pop echoed through the room as confetti burst into the air.

The air was filled with the smell of gunpowder from the confetti cannons, and tiny paper pieces fluttered down like a colorful snowfall, sticking to Eratz's hair and shoulders.

The Crescent Moon team and his family erupted in cheers, a wild, joyous noise that filled the space, the sound echoing off the walls, almost deafening after the quiet hallway.

"Eratz!" Zara's voice cracked with emotion as she rushed toward him.

Her eyes were red from crying, but her smile was wide and genuine.

Without hesitation, she threw her arms around him, almost lifting him off the ground.

"You did it! You really did it, you monster!" she sobbed, her voice a mix of laughter and tears.

Eratz laughed softly.

"Zara, I can barely stand," he managed, but the warmth in her hug was soothing, a balm to his exhaustion.

Cassie pushed her way forward, gently but firmly prying Eratz away from Zara. She enveloped him in a warm embrace, her hands shaking as she held him close.

"You got what you deserved," she whispered against his ear, her voice thick with pride and relief. "All those hours, all that struggle... It was all worth it. You're amazing..."

He buried his face against her shoulder for a moment, allowing himself the comfort of her embrace.

"I did it, thanks to you, and everyone," he murmured back, almost as if he needed to hear it himself to believe it.

Roger was next, sweeping in like a storm. He grabbed Eratz in a bear hug from behind, practically lifting him off his feet. He ruffled Eratz's hair with a wide grin.

"That's our champion!" he boomed, his laughter filling the room. "You made us proud, Eratz. You made us all proud."

"Ouch... W-wait... I'm vulnerable... Put me down, da... Roger," Eratz chuckled, feeling the heaviness of his exhaustion mixed with the lightness of their joy.

Milo and Colin squeezed in, both of them jumping up and down in excitement.

"You were amazing, Eratz!" Milo shouted, his eyes shining with admiration. Colin nodded vigorously, clapping her hands together.

"You're the strongest, and the coolest," Colin added with a huge smile.

Eratz ruffled their hair, looking down at them with a fond expression.

"Thanks, you two. See? This is what you get when you work hard."

Mercury approached him last, her smile soft but her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

Without a word, she stepped close and cupped his face in her hands, then leaned in and kissed him.

It wasn't a brief kiss, it was slow, deep, and filled with everything she couldn't say in words. The room fell silent, everyone watching them with wide eyes.

When Mercury pulled back, she smirked, her cheeks heartening.

"You're incredible," she whispered.

Eratz blinked, then raised an eyebrow, grinning slightly.

"Right in front of the kids?" he teased, gesturing to Milo and Colin, who were both staring in shock.

Mercury's eyes widened, and she flinched.

"Oh, uh.... I-I... This is how you say good job in a foreign country!" she started, fumbling for

an excuse.

Colin gave her a skeptical side eye, folding her arms. Mercury groaned, hiding her face in her hands.

"Maybe she's really not a kid anymore..." she muttered.

Victoria stepped forward, raising her hand to calm the room.

"Alright, everyone," she called out, her voice strong yet filled with warmth. "We've shown everyone what we're capable of in this tournament. Crescent Moon isn't just another agency. We've proven our power, and it's far beyond the regional level."

The room buzzed with excitement, a ripple of agreement passing through the team. "But today isn't about the future," Victoria continued, her gaze softening as she looked at Eratz. "Today is about celebrating our champion, Eratz. He's earned this moment, and we're here to celebrate him. Tonight, we're going to the biggest restaurant in town! It's my treat!" A loud cheer erupted, everyone raising their fists. Eratz smiled tiredly.

"I really just feel like sleeping," he murmured.

Outside, Gabriel slipped through the bustling crowd, his hat pulled low and sunglasses hiding his eyes.

He moved quickly, trying to avoid recognition, but his expression was thoughtful, tinged

with something deeper.

He paused when he spotted a familiar figure standing by the exit. Crystal stood there, her eyes distant, scanning the crowd as if looking for something, or someone.

"Crystal?" Gabriel approached, genuinely surprised to see her there. "What are you doing

here?"

Crystal turned to him slowly, blinking as if she'd been lost in her own world.

"I had some free time," she said, her voice hollow, her eyes flicking back to the stream of

people pouring out of the arena.

Gabriel gave her a knowing smile, tilting his head.

"You're waiting for Eratz, aren't you?"

Her gaze snapped to his, a flash of anxiety crossing her eyes.

"I just... wanted to see him," she admitted, her voice barely a whisper. "He never said what he thought after he found out the truth about how I tried to help him. I need to know."

Gabriel's smile softened, filled with sympathy.

"Crystal... it sounds like you care about him more than you realize."

Crystal's eyes widened, and she looked away quickly, her hand tightening around the strap of

her bag.

"What are you saying?" she murmured. "It's not... it's not like that," but her voice wavered,

betraying her.

Her mind flashed back to the last time she'd seen Eratz's face before he was expelled, the anger in his eyes, and the contrast with the last time they were together in the same place, after the calamity birds event, this time his face absolutely unphased.

She felt a sharp twist of regret in her chest.

"It's not about that. We're leaving for Grushia tomorrow. I just need to see him, to know his

reaction, even if it's just for a moment."

Gabriel studied her for a moment, then nodded, his expression turning serious.

"I understand. I'll help you. I doubt he'll have much free time after tonight, so I'll make sure

you get your moment with him before tomorrow." S~eaʀᴄh the ηovёlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Crystal looked up at him.

"Thank you," she said quietly.

Across the plaza, Sia made her way through the thinning crowd, her steps paced as she approached a sleek black car parked near the arena's side entrance.

She paused, glancing back at the towering stadium, the fireworks still bursting above it,

painting the sky with streaks of color.

Her eyes reflected the light for a moment, her expression distant and contemplative.

A voice cut through the noise, casual and laced with amusement. "Well, at least now you've got a good excuse for losing. Those two were monsters."

The speaker stepped into view, a young girl with black hair tied into pigtails and ice-blue

eyes.

She was the girl who had defeated Kenny in the Grushia tournament, the one who had literally

ended his career.

Sia didn't turn to face her, her gaze still locked on the arena.

"Excuses," she replied flatly. "The only response to losing is to get stronger. Those three are

formidable. They'll be a problem."

The girl snorted, crossing her arms.

"Come on, sis," she teased. "If more of us from the agency had shown up, this whole thing would've been a cakewalk. Crescent Moon's got quality, sure, but we've got both quality and numbers. You'll see soon, it's about to begin." She tilted her head toward the car. "Don't you

agree, newcomer?"

Inside the car, Nyx rolled her eyes, leaning back against the seat with an impatient sigh.

"Can we leave already?" she drawled. "I'm done watching fireworks."

Sia finally turned, her gaze cool as she faced the girl.

"It's easy to brag about numbers and teamwork," she said sharply. "But I'd rather lose with

my team while being the strongest individual."

The girl laughed, a carefree sound.

"He's an Ishtarian, sis. It's no surprise he crushed everyone. Just like..."

But her words didn't reach out as she flopped into the back seat.

Sia turned back to the arena, her eyes narrowing slightly, lost in thought.

"This is only an excuse to not push harder."

She opened the car door and got inside, the engine revving as they drove off into the night,

leaving the roaring crowd and the brilliant light work behind.